Harvey Wiltshire remembered with football match

A charity football match in memory of a popular Woodley coach who died of cancer, has been hailed a great success.

The Harvey Wiltshire Memorial trophy was played between Harvey’s Hammers and Old Trentonians at Palmer Park in East Reading on Sunday and helped raise more than £1,000 for the Willow Foundation.

West Ham fan and former Woodley Wanderers coach Mr Wiltshire died in December, last year, after a two-year battle with cancer and it was his wish that more be done to support the charity which cares for families with terminally ill members.

His mum Pam, who lives in Emmer Green, said he would have been extremely proud of the turn-out of more than 300 people on the day, which was held the day after what would have been his 40th birthday.

“This would have been something Harvey would have absolutely loved and he would have been so pleased with everyone that came,” she said.

“It’s basically a big community from Caversham and Woodley and there’s people here today playing who came to Harvey’s fifth birthday party.

“I didn’t really know much about it and it was quite a surprise for me, but it’s been a lovely day.”

Harvey’s wife Michelle, from Fairwater Drive, and their other two children 11-year-old Chloe and nine-year-old Matthew also attended.

His eldest son Daniel, 14, played for his dad’s team which sadly lost 2-0, but co-organiser Darren Barrett said the Hammers were piling on the pressure in the last 15 minutes.

Mr Barrett said: “Harvey was a great personality and well-loved by lots of people, most of them have come down to show their support.

“He was part of the T20 group set up to help raise funds in memory of Trent Whitehouse, a friend of ours from school who was stabbed in Caversham 20 years ago.

“We’re hopefully going to stage the match every year with the Old Trentonians.

“It’s also credit to people like Deano Jones who have been managing the team for 20 years who help make these events to be as good as they are.”

Following the match the friends gathered in The College Arms pub in Wokingham Road to raise a glass in memory of their good mates Harvey and Trent.

After the match Reading FC memorabilia was auctioned off to help top up the coffers to be donated to the Willow Foundation.